Time: 9 p.m.
Cover: none
Francis Cheer
http://www.francischeer.com
http://francischeer.bandcamp.com
http://twitter.com/francischeer
John Gerrard paints the vivid truth of Francis Cheer on his upcoming record Mapmaker; "And in my head, there was a wonderful accident" the line from "Seabather", one of the album's standout tracks, communicates the stumbling nature of the songs, off the pages and into the heart like a lucky miscalculation, in the right direction, the sounds of years of perfectionism eventually left to their own devices.
A first generation Canadian born in Calgary to English parents, Gerrard's roots mix deeply with fantastic characters: his grandfather, the art teacher; his mother, the studio musician/braille enthusiast/playwright; his great great grandfather, Humphry Davy, inventor of the miner's lamp and a founding father of modern chemistry, credited with (among other things) discovering sodium and calcium. Under the moniker of his middle name and his mother's maiden name, Francis Cheer feeds on tongue-in-cheek happiness, and finds identity in an electric past.
He first finds acceptance early on in Alberta's hardcore/punk scene, with DIY music collectives justabunchofkids and roadbike.ca, and as a member of bands like Local Hero, Alivia, The Evidence, Nikola Tesla and more. He turns on to graphic design during this time and runs with it. Itʼs easily compared to the taxing issues of organizing a band. His first batch of solo material becomes the Typewriter demos. This is also when he meets Regina's Matt Goud. "I did album art for both of his Northcote records and then joined the band to play bass" he says. "I've done three tours with him now. His music and friendship has definitely been an influence on how I approach making things."
Mapmaker began during art school - at home, at night, between classes and work as a sign maker. The songs ebbed and flowed for years around real-life tragedy and progress. Death hit close to home and illness dragged on. The finished product shows hints of emotional wear and tear, and is anchored by the depth of maturity, and hope in oneself.
Unsure as to where itʼs heading, Gerrard seems content and grateful for the moment: "Itʼs the most proud I've ever been of anything I've made. I feel like it represents the past four years and I'm really excited to share it with people." Like Sam Beam, Chris Martin, or a vibrato-less Conor Oberst, Gerrard is better than he lets on. He keeps Mapmaker's focus steady and holds back with patience, letting the songs float like he knows he's better, too. At times Mapmaker fades into the spaces of mundane everyday life as the soundtrack to memories of where you were when you first heard The Shins, or Bon Iver, or Fleet Foxes. They play nostalgically and prophetically, like taking in your own funeral.
Short and familiar, Mapmaker is open to new ideas like those found in the lost bedroom tapes of a folk troubadour who died before his time. An uplifting and downcast record of belonging, it sings it’s songs from the inside out. We hear the not-yet-broken soul of a poet gasping for breath. It's imagination in real time, composed of pieces of possibilities unfolding in the sun. It’s a record of never quite getting where you're going. But damn, it feels good to leave.
Basic Info
Joined Facebook 01/04/2008
Genre folk pop
Members john gerrard
Hometown calgary
Record Label well sure records
Influences joel plaskett - 3
the great gatsby, paul simon - graceland, bob dylan - the freewheelin
David McKillop http://www.myspace.com/davemckillopmusicI'm looking and more than interested in playing any shows available in
the area! As well, I've come to notice there's a group on facebook for
my stuff. I didn't make that, and I don't update that or anything, just
for clarification.
.. ..
I came out with a ten-song demo at the start of the summer.
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